Ted Olsen took all the photos here; in fact, he took 10 times as many as included here. This seemed to be the minimum number to capture the move.

At 05:50, frost settled on the scene over by the Seneca River.

NY State Police had begun their thorough inspection by 0733. Note the following times for this inspection:

07:47,

07:56,

08:06,

08:10,

and what words the poetic elf pronounced at 09:10, I was not privy to.

By 10:52, the final height measurements were taken; the canal has always had low bridges but the roadways add low wires to be considered.

The convoy began moving by 11:11.

Ted had scoped out angles and perspectives in advance. At 11:51, the Lois convoy demonstrated a terrestrial version of an aqueduct.

By 12:12, the county, state, and federal portions of the roadway had been safely transited, and the convoy made the exit. I’d love to see photos passers-by on interstate 90 took. If you see this post, please get in touch.

At 12:21 something happened at lock 52 that had not occurred since 1917: a boat transited the lock. I’m told on good authority that the height of Lois‘ hull through the stonework here matched what would have been the case in 1917 when a canal boat last transited the lock afloat.

At 12:24 the Kenworth towed the  loaded trailer into position, then uncoupled, backed around, and attached to what had been the rear of the trailer.

For a non-public event, the public represented well at 12:30.

The magic of using the trailer’s hydraulics to transfer Lois onto the cradle began by 13:05.

Note the green I-beams inserted under Lois by 14:00.

The trailer was completed unencumbered by 15:20, and the Kenworth slowly pulled the trailer away and out

beyond lock 52.

By 15:30, Erie House and Lois McClure looked like they’d been waiting for each other for over a century. Part 1 of a vision has been realized.

What Seneca–the mononymous one–said, or wrote, seems appropriate here: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

Congratulations to all involved, and I’ll pass the task of listing all those involved to someone more knowledgeable than I am. Having said that, with the arrival of Lois McClure in front of Erie House, there are many more ways more folks can become involved with the Canal Society of New York.